Joseph Alphonse Hyacinthe Alexandre de Bonnet d’Honnières
Command Ratings
Charles-Joseph-Alphonse-Hyacinthe-Alexandre de Bonnet d’Honnières was a French infantry officer who rose during the French Revolutionary Wars and the early Empire to the rank of général de brigade, and who died of wounds received at the battle of Eylau. Born at Valréas (Vaucluse), he entered military service as a cadet in January 1780 in the 47th Infantry Regiment. He resigned in 1787, then returned to the army during the Revolution, re-entering as a captain in September 1791 with the 71st Infantry Regiment (formerly Vivarais).
Assigned to field service on the Rhine frontier, he served with the armée de la Moselle and later the armée de Sambre-et-Meuse in successive demi-brigade formations. During this period he was wounded on multiple occasions, including at Lambach in December 1793 (shot wound to the foot) and during the Rhine operations near Düsseldorf in September 1795 (bayonet wound to the head). He advanced to chef de bataillon in late 1796 and served in the 108th demi-brigade, taking part in operations including Neuwied in April 1797.
In 1798 he joined the French expedition to Ireland and was captured at sea in October 1798 aboard Hoche; he returned to France following an exchange in 1799. In 1800 he was appointed chef de brigade of the 51st demi-brigade (later 51st Line Infantry), and he was present with that formation in the campaign culminating at Hohenlinden (December 1800). By 1803 he held the rank of Colonel and was employed with the forces assembled at the camp of Bruges. In June 1804 he was made an officer of the Légion d’honneur.
During the War of the Third Coalition he served in the 1805 campaign and was promoted général de brigade on 24 December 1805. In 1806 he commanded a brigade in General Morand’s division within Davout’s III Corps, and he fought at Auerstädt (14 October 1806), where he was wounded, and at Golymin (26 December 1806). At Eylau (8 February 1807) he led his brigade in action and sustained a severe wound (recorded as a shot to the right shoulder). He died of his wounds on 11 February 1807 at Kisiten, shortly after the battle.
Sources
The grandly named one was killed at the Battle of Eylau in 1807. Col. rank on 4/30/97; X rank on 12/05; X 07 Eylau (MW). (1764-1807)